State of Louisiana v. Lee Turner, Jr.

Summary

The court affirmed Lee Turner Jr.'s convictions for two counts of first degree murder but vacated his death sentences because the trial court improperly barred defense counsel from asking prospective jurors whether they would automatically impose death for the charged category of murders involving armed robbery. The court held that this restriction rendered capital voir dire inadequate, although the record did not show that the error impaired Turner's intelligent use of peremptory challenges so as to require reversal of the convictions. The court otherwise rejected the jury-selection challenges addressed in the visible portion of the opinion and remanded for further proceedings.